Goodbye Pool Party

We had a going away party at the pool for the girls today. They invited their friends from school and town, many of whom had never been to this pool. It’s a little outside of town, requiring a car ride, and the advertised price is $25 per person to get in, although no one I know has ever paid that so it’s a little unclear who exactly can swim for free.

Transportation was a bit of a challenge because Daniel left for the city today with the car. He’s going to the US Embassy tomorrow morning to try and get his passport re-issued on the same day. But thanks to some good friends we piled a bunch of kids and pool toys in the cars and went out to the beach club.

I was so happy to find out that our cook, Marta, was working. This is one of her many jobs. She knows us well and she’s so eager to please, and she also will see every task through to the end, usually predicting what I might want or need before I even realize it. So it was great to have her there and I think she enjoyed being a part of it too. She was even one step ahead of me when I worried we wouldn’t have enough hot dogs. “Here, Senora. Cut them in half with a knife.”

This party was definitely not up to my usual standard of parties in the USA. I had no idea who came. They came in three different cars with different people. Friends of the girls brought siblings or cousins or other friends. I didn’t know half of the kids and neither did Zoe or Haley, but they were with our group as evidenced by them eating our food. At least I hope they were. Thank goodness for my friend Ramona who kept a sharp eye on the little siblings who came along (no lifeguard on duty, of course). Every once in awhile Ramona would notice the pool was empty of kids and would go looking for them down near the beach.

When it came time to go home we had more transportation issues but we managed to shove all kinds of kids in just two cars. No seatbelts on ANYONE. After we got home and all the kids emptied out of the cars, it’s time to relax and enjoy the evening. But a little piece of me worries that we didn’t get all the kids. What happens if someone knocks on my door later tonight wanting to know where their kid is? The oversight of kids is definitely very loose here. The smallest girl who came was probably about 4. She came with her sister, who paid her not one bit of attention. She did stay in the shallow pool, however. The entire party felt a bit like chasing cats, but since you didn’t know how many you started with, how would you ever know if you got them all? It’s pretty indicative of our entire experience: you just have to put one foot in front of the other and hope for the best.

I know 50% of the children in this picture.I know everyone in this picture! Yeah!Ashley and Zoe snuck away from the crowd for some quiet reflection…?Gotta love Marta!In the car on the way home. Not pictured: a bunch of other kids behind Zoe.